Abstract
Semen modifies the expression of genes related to immune function along the porcine female internal genital tract. Whether other pathways are induced by the deposition of spermatozoa and/or seminal plasma (SP), is yet undocumented. Here, to determine their relative impact on the uterine and tubal transcriptomes, microarray analyses were performed on the endocervix, endometrium and endosalpinx collected from pre-ovulatory sows 24 h after either mating or artificial insemination (AI) with specific ejaculate fractions containing spermatozoa or sperm-free SP. After enrichment analysis, we found an overrepresentation of genes and pathways associated with sperm transport and binding, oxidative stress and cell-to-cell recognition, such as PI3K-Akt, FoxO signaling, glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis and cAMP-related transcripts, among others. Although semen (either after mating or AI) seemed to have the highest impact along the entire genital tract, our results demonstrate that the SP itself also modifies the transcriptome. The detected modifications of the molecular profiles of the pre/peri-ovulatory endometrium and endosalpinx suggest an interplay for the survival, transport and binding of spermatozoa through, for instance the up-regulation of the Estrogen signaling pathway associated with attachment and release from the oviductal reservoir.
Highlights
Semen modifies the expression of genes related to immune function along the porcine female internal genital tract
Understanding the modifications of female genital molecular profiles triggered by seminal components that interact with the internal genital lining during the peri-ovulatory period could be of great importance to overcome problems associated with fertility
Differential gene expression is induced by semen (M or P1-artificial insemination (AI)) and sperm-free seminal plasma (SP) (SP-Ejac or SP from the P1 fraction (SP-P1)) through the entire female genital tract
Summary
Semen modifies the expression of genes related to immune function along the porcine female internal genital tract. Whether other pathways are induced by the deposition of spermatozoa and/or seminal plasma (SP), is yet undocumented To determine their relative impact on the uterine and tubal transcriptomes, microarray analyses were performed on the endocervix, endometrium and endosalpinx collected from pre-ovulatory sows 24 h after either mating or artificial insemination (AI) with specific ejaculate fractions containing spermatozoa or sperm-free SP. Sperm presence in the oviduct elicits different transcriptomic responses by modulating specific signaling pathways depending on which sex chomosome the spermatozoa contain[4]. Presence of spermatozoa and the following sperm-oocyte interactions influence gene expression in the ampullar-isthmic section of the oviduct, changes that would regulate several processes associated with fertilization and embryo development[9]. The SP seems to elicit changes in the expression of certain genes in the oviductal sperm reservoir: the utero-tubal junction[12]
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